The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-01-19
AT THE CAPITAL.
Opening of the Thirty fourth Legislature
II VIII he senator neutrality-suspicious.
tive Officers - Two Contests Pending
Tho Messages-The Committees Being


LANSING, January 3, 1881.
The Thirty fourth Legislature of the
State of Michigan opened in this city at
noon of the 9Th instant, in accordance with
the provisions Of the State constitution.
The Senate was called to order by Lieu
tenant Governor James ii. Mcdonald, who
is the first man from the upper peninsula
to occupy this honorable and responsible,
though not very highly salared position
(S3 per day for the session only. The
new Governor" as this officer is always
styled, is a tall and well preserved gentle
man of perhaps 60 years, with thick head
of gray hair, ant "a heavy mustache, nearly
white. Having spent his life first as a
railroad laborer, later as a railroad con-
tractor and builder, and still later as n mine
owner and operator, he comes to his new
duties entirely unfamiliar with their re-
quirements, vet he is quick witted and OBJ
serving, and will soon be able TO preside
with ease and dignity. Iris opening address
was short, but contained many good sug-
gestions, and was we'll received.
SENATE OFFICERS.
The officers elect of the Senate are: Sec
retary-Lew NJ. Miller, of Muskegon, re-
elected
Asst. Secretary-Geo. A. Royce. of
Baraga.
Sergeant at arms-P. @. Stoner, of Lam
sing, elected.
First Assistant-Edward f. Coon, of
Newaygo.
Second Assistant. A. Dockeray, of
Montcalm.
Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk-F. NJ.
Howe, of Lansing, elected.
Assistant-Mrs. l. II. jameson, of Lam
sing, reelected.
PRESIDENT PRO TEN.
Senator Charles j. Monroe, of the Van
Buren, and Allegan district, who is just
entering on his third consecutive term, and
is therefore styled the father of the house
although comparatively young man, was
elected President pro tenn. of the Senate, a
position he will fill to the satisfaction of
all.
HOUSE OFFICERS.
The House was called to order by Clerk
Crossman, of the last House, and Hon.
| Daniel z. Markey, of Ogemaw. was elected
| Speaker, by n vote of 20 to 26 for the
Democratic candidate. Mr.. Markey, who
secured the prize in the caucus by a vote of
| SO to 80 for Hon. NJ. +, Rumsey, of Ing
ham, is the youngest man who ever occu-
| pied this position, being only 20 years old.
| lie is an able lawyer, and, although on his
| first term two years ago, was chairman of
| the Judiciary, the leading committee of
either house. He is an eloquent talker
and good parliamentarian and will prove
| a worthy successor of such able and pop
ular Speakers as Woodman, Croswell and
Rich.
The other officers elected are:
Clerk-Daniel J.. Crossman, of Ingham,
who has been clerk continuously since 1873.
Sergeant at arms-John =. Austin, Of
| Gratot.
Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk-C.
ii. Leonard, Of Wayne.
Assistant-H. NJ. Rosa, of Kent.
SPEAKER PRO TEN.
Hon. Erastus n. Bates, of Allegan, o
leading member of the last House, was
elected Speaker pro tenn, and will make a
good one.
sToCKBRIDGE WINS THE PRIZE.
Above the organization of the Legisla-
ture or the reading of the messages, the
event of the week, and even the session,
was Unexpectedly settled the first week.
The United States Senatorial fight babe
fair TO be n long and holly contested one,
as there were four strong candidates in the
field and dozen dark horses. The lead
ing candidates were Senator Conger. of
Port Huron, who hoped to succeed him.
self; Francis b. Stockbridge of Kalama-
700: eX-Congressman Edward S. Lacey,
of Charlotte; and John G.. Fitzgerald, of
Grand Rapids. A Republican caucus was
called for Thursday evening, and eighty
nine Republican Legislators found to be
present when it was called to order by Sen
ator Monroe. Speaker Markey was made
Chairman and then nominations were in
order.
Senator Giddings, of Cadillac, presented
the name of Stockbridge, and Senators
Palmer and Monroe, and Representatives
Hoaglin, Mccormick, and Perkins sup
ported it; all making eloquent speeches.
Senator J. w. Babcock presented the
name of Mr. Conger, and Sen ators Atwood
and Fox, and Representatives Mokelein,
Hoskin, and Wood supported it.
Representative Diekema spoke eloquently
for Mr.. Fitzgerald.
Representative w. w. Williams named
Mr.. Lacey, while Senators Crosby and Pot
ter supported it.
Mr.. Stockbridge was declared nominated,
Senator Hubbell making the motion to that
effect and then committee was sent to in
vite in the success III and unsuccessful can
didates. ~Stockbridge made a neat but
very short speech of acceptance, willie the
others all accepted defeat as bravely as they
could, Senator Conger, who will thus re-
tire to private life on the 4th of March
after six terms in Congress and one in the
United States Senate, being visibly affected
1
house separately on the 18th Second Tues
day after the organization and in joint
convention on the 18th. No kick against
the nominee will be made, as when Senato1
Ferry was defeated in 1888, and so the
caucus virtually settled the SenatorshiI
question.
Mr.. StockbridQe was born in Maine sixty
years AGO, lived for several years in Bos-
ton, and then moved to Chicago. He then
In 1850, made his home in Michigan, and
has ever since been permanently engaged
in numbering at Saugatuck. Menominee
and st. Ignace. He has resided ut Kala-
mazoo since 1874, and was a Representa-
tive in 1869 and n State Senator in 1871
He is possessed of immense wealth, i
brainy, public spirited, liberal and popular
TBI. COMMITTEES.
Both houses nd burned from last even
ing to next Tuesday evening, and then the
presiding officers will announce theil
standing committees and business viii
begin in good earnest, OBSERVER.
THOUGH years bring with them wis
dom, vet there is one lesson the ageC
seldom learn-namely, the management
of youthful feelings. Age is all head
youth all heart; age reasons, youth
feels: ace acts under the influence o.